Deepest Desire

End of the War

The day was coming to a close, Hermione looked around and saw nobody moving. She could smell death in the air, and for a split second she had the fear that she was all alone. She pushed this out of her mind, knowing that there was no bloody way that everyone in the wizarding world could be gone. She was sure that even though they'd won, there would still be Death Eaters out there, waiting, just in case she wasn't the only one. She just hoped that she could figure out a way to get past them. Even though she'd lost her lover, her soul mate, she still wanted to live on.

Ronald Weasley had only been dead for a little over two hours now, but Hermione felt like it had been a lifetime since she'd last seen him alive. She missed him more than ever, and she couldn't seem to be able to find Harry. She knew he'd survived the battle, but she feared that the left over Death Eaters had gotten a hold of him. She knew Harry wasn't stupid, he would have known to be cautious, but still, what if he'd been celebrating, and been too careless? The thoughts that were running through her head were starting to make her sick.

Where would she go now? She hadn't planned on losing Ron in the war, and she hadn't planned what she would do next. They had planned to get married later that year. They were already living together, although, unbeknownst to her, their house had been destroyed in a terrible fire, most likely started by Death Eaters earlier that day. No matter though, Hermione had packed everything she, Ron, and Harry would need for the war into a tote earlier that week. Ron had been amazed at how much she could hold in it. She managed to fit two cots for sleeping, two weeks worth of food, and clothing, for the three of them, and random sentimental items, such as an empty box that used to hold an engagement ring, Hermione started wearing it that morning, in hopes of it bringing good luck. Ron had packed a watch that Mr. Weasley had given him for Christmas, and Harry had packed a journal that Sirius had given to him. Hermione was half tempted to open the journal and read the words that Harry had written, but decided against it, he was, after all, still alive.

After minutes of laying quiet and still on the ground in the left-over rubble that once was Hogwarts, Hermione decided that it was time to get up and look around for anyone who could still be alive. She was just about to give up all hope, when she heard a noise, and was startled by a very familiar, if not unwelcome, voice, coming from behind her.

"Granger, I see you've finally decided to come out of hiding. I wondered whether you were a goner just like your little boyfriend."

Hermione quickly spun around, wand raised at the unwanted Draco Malfoy. She'd heard that he was fighting on their side, against Voldemort and the rest of the death eaters, but she couldn't be so sure now that he was standing in front of her, being his normal Malfoy self.

"What do you want from me, Malfoy? Have you been waiting for me or something?"

"What makes you think I'd want anything from you, Granger? I'm just doing the job I was told to do, find any survivors that I can."

"You never cease to amaze me, you know that? Even at a time like this, hundreds of people lying all around us, you still act like we're eleven years old. Will you ever grow up?"

"Well, I was going to offer you a place to stay, seeing as my father's friends decided to burn down yours and Weasley's place this morning."

"They what?"

"Oh, you didn't hear? I would have thought somebody might have told you by now."

"You're the only one I've seen since...since Ron was killed."

"Well, the offer still stands. You can stay at Malfoy Manor if you'd like, Potter is there now, I suppose."

"Harry's alive? Oh, thank God!"

"Yes, he's very much alive, driving me insane with his constant questions. He keeps checking to see if I've found you. You'd better go there now."

"You know Malfoy, even though you're usually a bastard to everyone else but yourself, I can see now that you really were fighting for our side. You've got a little bit of goodness in you."

"Of course I was fighting for your side, I wouldn't be speaking to you otherwise, stupid woman. Go on."

Hermione quickly smiled at him, before apparating outside of the grounds of Malfoy Manor.

"Why did I just invite that Mudblood to stay in my home? Only for Harry..."